NFL Playoff Preview: Packers vs. 49ers

The Green Bay Packers (11-5 during the regular season) take on the San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1) on Saturday in the first NFC divisional round playoff game. Read a preview of the match-up including broadcast information, key players and an expert prediction.

The 49ers are favored by 2.5 points via OddsShark.com. The over/under for the game is 44.5 points.

How they got here

Green Bay Packers

Green Bay turned in a dominating performance against the Minnesota Vikings to cruise to a wild-card win. Joe Webb, who filled in for the injured Christian Ponder at quarterback for the Vikings, was dominated by the Packers defense. He finished just 11-for-30 passing for 180 yards and was sacked three times. Aaron Rodgers passed for 274 yards and a touchdown in the win.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers led the NFC West for much of the season, and managed to hold off the Seahawks to earn the divisional title and a first-round bye. What made San Francisco's season unique, though, was a mid-year quarterback switch from Alex Smith to Colin Kaepernick. Smith was hurt during a Week 10 game against the Rams. Prior to his injury, the 49ers were 6-2, and Smith had completed more than 70 percent of his passes. Regardless, Jim Harbaugh opted to promote second-year pro Colin Kaepernick to starter, and after his team tied the Rams in that Week 10 game, Kaepernick guided the 'Niners to five wins in the season's final seven weeks.

Recent history

Fresh off their run to the NFC Championship game last season, the 49ers opened up this season with a statement win, 30-22 over Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. The San Francisco defense was suffocating for most of the game, holding Green Bay to just one touchdown through three quarters. Aaron Rodgers nearly rallied the Packers to a late win, but the 49ers forced a turnover on downs with less than a minute left to seal the win. The opening-day versions of these two teams were much different than the teams than will be meeting in the divisional playoffs, though. The Packers had a rough start to the year before rallying to win 10 of their next 12 games, including last week's wild-card game. The 49ers, meanwhile, were still quarterbacked by Alex Smith.

Key match-up

Colin Kaepernick vs. Packers defense

For the second straight week, the Packers will be facing a quarterback making his NFL playoff debut. This time, however, their opponent won't be a last-second injury replacement, but rather the starting quarterback for the NFC South champs.

Just as Robert Griffin III did for the Washington Redskins this season, Kaepernick combined his mobile passing attack with superior protection of the football. Kaepernick threw just three interceptions over the season's final eight games, never throwing more than one pick against an opponent. However, his accuracy did fall slightly down the season's stretch; after completing at least 64 percent of his passes from Weeks 10-14, Kaepernick completed less than 60 percent of his passes each of the season's final three weeks.

Kaepernick will be matched up against a Green Bay defense that allowed the 11th-fewest opponent passing yards per game during the regular season. But while the Packers shut down the Vikings' passing game last week, they did allow quarterback Joe Webb to have some success running the ball. Webb carried the ball seven times for 68 yards, finishing with just eight fewer yards than the Packers' entire offense in 23 fewer carries. And like Webb, Kaepernick can run.

If Clay Matthews can back up his terrific wild-card performance with another big divisional game and put constant pressure on Kaepernick, the 49ers quarterback could struggle. But if San Francisco's line holds up, it will be interesting to see how Kaepernick balances his ability to pass with his speed, and how the Packers defense is able to both contain Kaepernick and limit the red-hot Michael Crabtree.

This is by far the most intriguing matchup this playoff weekend. It has all the makings of a classic. But it is ultimately going to come down to Aaron Rodgers vs. Colin Kaepernick. While Kaepernick is an excellent young quarterback, Rodgers is in the prime of a Hall of Fame career. Also, linebacker Clay Matthews has returned from injury to play some of the best football of his career for the Packers. Green Bay 31, San Francisco 28 -- Pat Caputo, The Oakland Press